Self-sealing can tapper



y 30, 1940- G. F. ACKLEY 2,209,313

SELF-SEALING CAN TAPPER Filed May 26, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l g' 5 7INVENTOR.

BY W 9 Z ATTORNEY.

July 30, 1940. (5. ACKLEY 2,209,313

I SELF-SEALING CAN TAPPER Filed May 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o "VINVENTOR.

July 30, 1940. ACKLEY 2,209,313

SELF-SEALING CAN TAPPER Filed May 26, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

FZIS 7 Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3Claims.

The object of my invention is to produce a tapping device for removingliquids from sealed tin containers without removing a wall sectiontherefrom.

Another object is to provide a can tapper for thin metal liquidcontainers, provided with a sealing unit therein.

A further object is to produce a detachable tapper suitable for tableuse on small cans, especially designed for converting the can into adispensing pitcher.

A still further object is to provide a can tapper and sealer, simple inconstruction, quickly attached to any can, easily and efiicientlyoperated and that can be manufactured at a very low cost.

These several objects are attained in the preferred form by theconstruction and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter set forth.

Similar parts on all drawings are marked by similar numerals or letters.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the detachable can tapper'showing the generalarrangement of the exterior parts.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the device showing the relative position of theunit across the can top.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view lengthwise the assembled unit takenon the line 3-3 of the Fig. 2, showing the detail construction of thevarious operating parts and the inlet and outlet ports.

Fig. 4 me cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-5 of the Fig. 3,showing the liquid outlet port and the closing valve mounted therein.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of the Fig. 3,showing the air inlet port formed in the operating valve stem.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a modified form of the same can tapper, bututilizing a lever contacting arrangement instead of the threaded valvestem shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a top view of the modified form showing the relative positionof the pivoted operating levers.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the same lever operated tapper but with thesealing valve and valve stem omitted.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a further modified form of the tapper shown inFig. 3 but provided with a rotatable contracting gear unit in place ofthethreaded valve stem previously shown.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of an alternate form of pivoted can tapper withthe piercing units positioned to enter the can top.

Fig. 11 is a top view of the alternate pivoted tapper showing therelative position of the piercing unit and the special means forretaining same on the can walls.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line l2l2 of the Fig.11 showing the detail construction of the various operating parts.

Fig. 13 illustrates a modified form of tapper bar with the sealing valvestem omitted.

It is common knowledge that various liquids are materially aifected whenexposed to air for a continued time, either volatile or effect aconstituent change, as in gasoline or milk. My selfsealing tapper isespecially adapted for use with such liquids to be dispensed from tincontainers, although it may be also used with any other form of fluidsequally as well.

I will now describe more fully the detail construction of my devicereferring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

The casing l is made of tubular metal, approximately the length of thediameter of the container A, and is provided with a hollow L-shapedpiercing horn 2 at one end thereof and opening therein. The piercinghorn 2 is formed with a sharp pointed end a and side wall ports 2;,positioned in alignment parallel with the casing axis, pointing inward.The horn is preferably made integral with the casing wall, although itmay be rigidly attached thereto by any suitable means. A cross rib c isprovided within the tubular casing I and formed with a central threadedopening 11 concentric with the tubular casing axis.

vWithin the opposite. casing end is slidably mounted a tubular slidemember 3, preferably splined thereto by the key 4, or by any othersuitable means, and is also provided with a rigidly attached hollow,L-shaped piercing horn M at the outer end thereof and opening therein.The horn 2a is of like structure as the opposing horn 2 and ispositioned with the piercing point a inward and in alignment therewith.Both the casing l and the inclosed slide 3 are provided with suitablesupport bars 5 and 6 respectively,

fixedly attached thereto, providing means for retaining the device inthe required position on a. can top when'attachingsame. Within thetubular slide 3 is mounted .a threaded valve stem 1, passingtherethrough and threadably engaged with the casing cross rib opening dand capable of adjustment therein for telescoping the tubular members Iand 3 together as the valve stem 1 is rotated. Flxedly mounted on theinner end of the valve stem l within the open end of the casing i is abutterfly valve block 8. This valve block is fitted to the casing wallopening, being rotatably and slidably mounted therein and is designed toclose and seal the piercing horn opening e when rotated thereover.Within the opposite end of the valve stem 1 is formed an air passage ,fpositioned to open into the piercing horn opening 9' when the oppositehorn opening e is open. A partial rotation of the valve stem 1 willclose and seal both ports simultaneously. Any suitable operating handle9, of any chosen de- .bers together may be substituted therefor. exactlever construction is not material.

. tion and operation is sign, may be fixedly mounted on the outer end ofthe valve stem I for rotating same, and when desired may be formed andused as a handle member. Suitable sealing caps l0, preferably flexiblerubber discs of the vacuum type, designed to lit the can wall contour,are fixedly mounted over each piercing horn point 2 and 2a andpositioned to engage the can wall as the respective points are piercedtherethrough and seal the openings. Any other suitable sealing pad maybe used if desired. By unscrewing the threaded valve stem 1, the pointsa of the piercing horns 2 and 2a may be sufficiently separated to passover the top end of a tin container when positioned diametricallythereacross, the horn points being positioned to engage the containerside walls on opposite container sides. By-screwing the valve stem Iinto the casing rib threads, the tubular slide members are telescopedtogether, forcing their respective piercing horn points a through thethin walls of the container A, and

injected within the container chamber, the horn ports b then openingtherein. The pierced wall openings being sealed by the sealing caps l0tightly pressed thereagainst. When the valve stem 1 is rotated, the hornopenings e and g may be opened and the container liquid easily pouredthrough the casing open end. A further half rotation of the valve stemwill again close and seal both horn openings, and completely resealingthe container A.

The Figs. 6, '7 and 8 show the same detachable can tapper as shown inFigs. 1, 2' and 3, except the threaded valve stem contracting means isreplaced by pivoted lever mechanism, each of the arms II and I2 beingpivotally connected to the tubular members I and 3 respectively, andcapable of telescoping the two slide sections together whenever theconnected levers are depressed. Any other suitable arrangement of levermechanism'capable of telescoping the sliding mem- The The sealing valveblock Band operating valve stem 1 are omitted in the illustration shownin the Fig. 8. The Fig. 9 shows the same detachablecan tapper as shownin the Fig. 1, but with the threaded stem \contracting means replaced bygear and rack mechanism. The operating gear I3 is rotatably mounted onthe casing la and engages the teeth formation hformed on the tubularslide 3a. Any rotation of the gear l3 by the attached operating arm I!will cause the telescoping of the attached slide members la and 3a thesame as in the former case. The applicathe same as heretofore described.

An alternate construction is shown in the Figs. 11 to 13. The tubularcasing lb is pivotally mounted at one end to a container hinge band l5,and is provided with two hollow conical-piercing horns 20 positioned onthe under side at opposite ends thereof. A valve stem 1a is rotatablymounted within the tubular casing lb and is provided with an air port fand butterfly valve block Ba. for the respective horn wall openings, asin the former case. Any substantial rotation of the valve stem Ia willclose and seal both ports. By manually depressing the pivoted tubularcasing lever member lb, the sharp horn points 20 may be forced throughthe end wall of any container A and the respective horn ports b injectedwithin the container compartment. The wall perforations being sealed bythesealing caps l0 mounted on the respective horn points as in theformer case. Suitable spring arm clamps ii are provided on the containerhinge band l5, designed and positioned to engage and retain the tubularcasing member lb in a closed position on the container top when oncedepressed thereon. By rotating the valve stem lb until both horn portsare open, the container liquid may then be discharged therethrough as inthe former cases.

The Fig 13 shows a similar operating casing member similar to. lb, butwith the valve stem lb omitted, and may be used to replace the valvedmember when the nature of the container liquid will permit, and when.the port closing is not desired.

It is apparent that my device is subject to various modifications inboth-arrangement and mechanical design, without departing from thespirit of my invention, and I therefore claim not only the structureherein illustrated, but any modification thereof that is substantially asub-.

sitution of parts and sections herein shown. Having fully described myselfsealing can tapper, what I claim as my invention and desire I .wallports, provided on the outer end of each of said tubular sections andopening into their respective tubular passages, a threaded valve stemrotatably mounted through both tubular sections and threadably connectedto one of said sections capable of adjusting said sections one with theother, a suitable handle rotating means mounted on the outer valve stemend for rotating same.

2. A self-sealing can tapper for sealed liquid containers, comprisingtwo tubular sections slidably mounted one within the other, and splinedtogether, a rigid hollow L-shaped piercing horn with wall ports,provided on the outer end of each of said tubular sections, opening intotheir respective tubular passages, said piercing horn points positionedto oppose each other, a threaded valve stem with suitable air passage,rotatably mounted through the inner tubular section and threadablyattached to the outer tubular section capable of forcing said sectionstogether, suitable turning means fixedly mounted on the outer end of thevalve stem, and suitable closing means provided on said valve stem forclosing and sealtubular casing and slide members each opening into itsrespective tubular passage, said horn points being positioned opposingeach other, a flexible sealing cap fitted over each horn point, athreaded valve stem rotatably mounted through the inner-tubular slideand threadably attached to the outer tubular casing, turning handlemeans fixedly mounted on the outer end of said valve stem, said valvestem being formed with an air passage leading to the adjacent horn wallopening, valve closing means provided on the opposite end of said valvestem adapted for closing and sealing the horn wall opening in thetubular casing, when same is rotated thereover.

GEORGE F. ACKLEY.

